News

Primary Election Results

(Le Mars) -- The Plymouth County election can be summed up by saying the Incumbants Win. In each of the Republican primary contested race, it was the incumbant candidate that was able to protect their position. Although, District Two between Mark Loutsch and Wayne Schipper the difference was only 49 votes. Loutsch was able to carry the rural areas while Schipper, perhaps not surprisingly carried Le Mars. Another close race was in District 5 where Jim Henrich narrowly defeated challenger Dan Smith. Henrich had 1117 votes while Smith had 951. In District 3, Don Kass was able to win easily by defeating challenger Merlin Wagner by a margin of 1138 votes. The sheriff's race between incumbant Mike Van Otterloo and Jay King was also a runaway. Van Otterloo defeated King by a 6 to 1 margin. A total of 2205 votes were cast which is more than double the votes from the last election in 2008, when 1084 people went to the polls. Again, the results of the Plymouth County Republican Primary had each of the incumbant candidates win.

Results:

SheriffVan Otterloo* 1844J. King 314

District #2Loutsch * 1069Schipper 1020

District #3Kass * 1580Wagner 442

District #5Henrich * 1117Smith 951

* - incumbant candidate

Tuesday News, June 5

Primary Election Day

(Le Mars) Today is primary election day. In Plymouth County, there are four contested races on the Republican ballot. The Sheriff's candidates include incumbant Mike Van Otterloo and challenger Jay King. For the Board of Supervisor races, District 2 has Mark Loutsch, the incumbant, facing Wayne Schipper. District 3 has Don Kass going against the challenger Merlin Wagner, and District 5 has Jim Henrich opposed by Dan Smith. For the Democrats, only the name of former Iowa First Lady Christy Vilsack will appear on the ballot, as she is seeking the Democratic party's nomination for Congress, representing the new 4th Congressional District. There are no other Democratic candidates seeking a county position. Again on the Republican ballot, Plymouth County Auditor Stacy Feldman is unopposed, as is Le Mars state representative Chuck Soderberg. Steve King is seeking another term to represent northwest Iowa in Congress. He, too, is unopposed on the primary ballot. County Auditor Stacy Feldman anticipates a higher than normal percentage of Republicans may cast their vote on Tuesday simply because of the interest in the contested races.

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Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and Feldman reminds people to get to the polls prior to the 9:00 p.m. closing deadline.

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Feldman says regardless of your party affiliation, all voting within the designated precinct will take place at the same location.

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Lt. Governor Reynolds To Visit Le Mars

(Le Mars) -- Iowa's Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds is planning a visit to northwest Iowa and Le Mars tomorrow (Wednesday). Reynolds is scheduled to tour the I-M-L Containers Iowa, Incorporated at 4:30 p.m. Reynolds is visiting several manufacturing and processing businesses. In addition to her visit to Le Mars, Reynolds will be in Orange City earlier in the day to visit with Prairie Winds Event Center, Quatro Composites, and Advance Pierre Foods.

Convict Escapes Sioux City Facility

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Authorities are seeking a 40-year-old man who escaped from a residential work release facility in western Iowa's Sioux City. The Iowa Department of Corrections says CletusAntonio Armell failed to return yesterday. Armell had been serving a 15-year sentence for armed robbery.

Supervisors Hold Public Hearings

(Le Mars) -- A Public Hearing regarding the 2011-2012 amended budget will take place during the weekly county Board of Supervisors meeting this morning. A second hearing is also scheduled to review an ordinance for housing development assessments. In other action, the supervisors will hear a report from SIMPCO, and they are expected to act upon a request for an extension filing for Gerald Kessnich in Stanton Township.

City Council Holds Hearings On Centennial Hall and Solid Waste Ordinance

(Le Mars) -- The Le Mars City Council is holding a public hearing regarding an offer to purchase Centennial Dormitory, as part of the former Westmar College. They also have scheduled a public hearing regarding the solid waste recycling ordinance. The hearings are scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon today.

State Corn Crop Condition Declines Due to Lack of Rain

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Much of Iowa has received some rain, but the state could use more in certain dry spots. In its report yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says corn conditionsdeclined slightly for the second straight week. The report shows 75 percent of corn is rated good to excellent, which is down from 77 percent a week ago.